Venetian blind



July 24, 1956 H. E. MCINTIRE VENETIAN BLIND 3 Sheets-Sheet l .iled July15, 1952 INVENToR HARRY E. MCI/Vf/RE BY ,wx/d wad H. E. MCINTIREVENETIAN BLIND July 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l5, 1952INVENToR HARK Y E'. McINTIRE ww ww D w D O Q/ a. Q N N nl Q h N n E n b,1 I4 W., ...,v l 1.4@

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VENETIAN BLIND Filed July 15, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR HARRY EMCJ'NTIRE VENETIAN BLIND Harry E. McIntire, Chico, Calif. ApplicationJuly 15, 19,52, Serial No. 298,913

2 Claims. (Cl. 16d-176) This Vinvention relates in general to Venetianblinds; the invention Abeing directed in particular to, and it `is avmajor object to provide, an improved Venetian blind of the type whereinthe slats are vertically disposed, adjust for light entry angle about avertical axis, and s hiftlaterally or in a horizontal direction to openor close as ,a whole.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a verticalVenetian blind which embodies a novel mount which supports the verticalslats, for such horizontal opening or closing motion, in a right andleft hand section; i. e. the blind opens, as a whole, from thecenterlaterally in opposite directions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a Vertical Venetianblind, as in the preceding paragraph, which incorporates a novelmanually operated cable system for opening or closing such blind.

A separate object of the invention is to provide van arrangement whichcauses the slats, of each section, to automaticallyassume apredetermined angle whensuch section is opened from a closed position;the slats, in the latter position, being in close, parallel or face toface relation for desirable compactness.

A further object of the invention is to provide the Venetian blind withnovel control mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the light entryangle of the `slats which comprise the sections of the blind.

A still further object of the invention is to .provide va verticalVenetian blind which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture,together with convenience of installation and use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a practical, reliable,and durable vertical Venetian blind, and one which will be exceedinglyeffective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts `as will fully appear by a'perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the vertical Venetianblind in closed position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation on line 2-2 of Fig.l.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but is taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

'Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation showingthe connection of the cableends with one of the laterally shiftable vertical spindles.

Fig. 5 `is a bottom plan view of the hub of one of the lower keepers.

plan on line 6 -6 Aof the blind, showplates, as used in the position.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, and at present to Figs. 1-11 inclusive, the improved verticalVenetian blind disclosed therein comprises a horizontal, upper mounting.b o'x'il and a horizontal, lower mounting box 2; each of zsaid -boxesbeing of hollow construction and adapted to be secured in an adjacentpart of the window frame by "suitable means (not shown). i

The upper mounting box 1 is formed on the under side with asubstantially full length, longitudinal slot 3,

' and the top of the lower mounting box 2 is formedwith a correspondingslot 4.

A pair of upper lazy tongs, `indicated at 5 and 6, is disposed in thebox 1 in end to end alinement, being held down against rthe bottom ofsaid box by transversely spaced, `longitudinal guides 7.

Similarly, a pair of lazy tongs 3 and 9 is disposed in end to endalinement in the box 2, being supported therein on transversely spaced,longitudinal guides 10.

The upper lazy tongs 5 and 6 are anchored at ltheir outer ends in thebox 1 by end spindles 11 which `are turnably journaled, in the mannershown, in thebox l1.

Similarly, the lower lazy tongs S and 9 are anchored at their outer endsby lower end spindles 12 which are turnably journaled in the box 2. Theparticular Vmounting o f the spindles 11 and 12 is shown in Fig. 2.

The remaining central axes of the upper lazy tongs 5 and 6 are connectedby turnable spindles 1,3 which project downwardly through the slot 3.Similarly, the remaining central axes of the lower lazy tongs 8 and 9are connected by turnable spindles 14 which project upwardly through theslot 4.

The spindies 1i and 13 are each integral at their projecting lower endswith a hub 15 formed centrally on a horizontal, channel shaped,downwardly opening keeper 16. The spindles 12 and 14 are each integral,at their upper ends, with a downwardly facing hub 17 formed centrally ona horizontal, channel-shaped, upwardly opening keeper 18. Correspondingkeepers 16 and v18 are alined in parallelism, and a spring metalVenetian `blind slat 19 extends between, and engages at the ends in,corresponding keepers 16 and 1S.

The slats 19 are of elongated reverse S-shape in plan and are engagedunder tension in the related keepers,

Additionally, each keeper 18, except the outer endmost ones thereof, isformed at the bottom adjacent the ends with short depending studs orpins 20 for the purpose hereinafter described.

ri`he slats 19 which extend between the lazy tongsv 5 land .8 form aleft-hand section of the blind, while the slats 19 which extend betweenthe lazy tongs 6 and9 form a right-hand section of the blind. (See Fig.11.) By simultaneously extending the lazytongs 5, 6, ,8, and 9 the rightand left hand sections of the blind are shifted toward each other and toa closed position. Contrarywise, simultaneous retraction of all of thelazy `tongs opens the blind. Such extension and contraction of the 3lazy tongs is accomplished simultaneously by means of the followingcable system:

A continuous cable unit 21 extends wholly about the blind; such cableunit including an upper, horizontal run 22 traveling in the box 1between the guides 7; a lower, horizontal run 23 traveling in the box 2between the guides and vertical, opposite end or pull runs 24 and 25exposed for manual access at the related side of the blind. Each pullrun includes an eye 26 for ease of linger engagement.

The continuous cable unit 21 changes direction between the adjacentdescribed runs by passing over pulleys 27 and 28 in opposite ends of thebox 1, and pulleys 29 and 30 in opposite ends of the box 2; the cableafter passing over each such pulley being carried out of the related boxthrough a bell-like guide 31.

The spindle 13, at the inner end of the upper lazy tongs 5, is extendedupwardly and connects, as at 32, to the upper run 22 of the continuouscable unit 2l, while the spindle 13, at the inner end of the lower lazytongs 9, is extended downwardly and connects to the lower horizontal run23, as at 33.

A separate, two-run continuous cable unit 34 travels in the box 1between the guides 7; such unit comprising one run 35 and another run36. The cable unit 34 is trained at its ends about pulleys 34a on therelated spindles 11 (see Fig. 2) of the lazy tongs 5 and 6.

A separate, two-run continuous cable unit, indicated generally at 37,travels in the box 2 between the guides 10, and includes one run 38 andanother run 39. The cable unit 37 is trained at its ends about pulleys37a on the spindles 12 of the lazy tongs 8 and 9 (see Fig. 2).

The run 35 of the cable unit 34 is connected to the run 22 of the cableunit 21 at the connection 32. Also, the other run 39 of the cable unit37 is connected to the lower run 23 of the cable unit 21 by theconnection 33.

The other run 36 of the cable unit 34 is connected, as at 40, to anextension of the inner endmost spindle 13 of the upper lazy tongs 6.

The remaining one run 38 of the cable unit 37 is connected, as at 41, toan extension of the inner endmost spindle 13 of the lower lazy tongs S.

With this arrangement it will be evident that by pulling up or down oneither of the runs 24 or 25 of the cable unit 21, the lazy tongs `willbe actuated by the described cable system to simultaneously contract orextend the same to cause opening or closing of the blind.

As such lazy tongs contract or extend they are guided in the boxes 1 and2 by bosses 42 which run in the slot 3 or 4; such bosses being formed,at the central axes of the lazy tongs, on the links which are adjacentsaid lot.

Also, the cables of the system, as described above, are tted--at eachconnection pointwith attachment tips 43, as shown--for examplein Fig. 4.

When all of the lazy tongs are contracted, with the right and left handslat sections of the blind in open position, the slats 19 are parallelin close face to face relation, as in Fig. 7. However, when the lazytongs are simultaneously extended for the purpose of closing the blind,the slats automatically assume a diagonal lightentry angle (see Fig. 8),and this is accomplished in the following manner:

Each of the hubs 17 faces downwardly and has frictional engagement withthe related portion of the adjacent link of the corresponding lazytongs; the line of frictional engagement being indicated at 44. Thefrictional engagement between these parts may be enhanced by forming theface of each hub 17 about the spindle 14 with small radial ribs 45 whichnormally seat in, but which can ride out of, matching grooves (notshown) in the related part of the lazy tongs.

By reason of the line of frictional engagement 44 between each hub 17and the corresponding lazy tongs, the latter-as they extend-impart apart-rotation to the hubs 17, resulting in automatically angling todiagonal of the keepers 18 and the slats 19 carried thereby.

Thus, each time that the vertical Venetian blind is closed, the slats 19automatically assume a diagonal light-entry angle which is satisfactoryfor ordinary conditions. However, under some conditions it may bedesired to further adjust the light-entry angle of the slats 19 inunison, either to a greater or lesser angle, and this is accomplished asfollows:

A horizontal, laterally shiftable control bar 46 is disposed at thebottom of the blind directly above the inner edge portion of the box 2;such control bar, at the ends, having slotted inturned ears 47 whichengage, in the manner of a lost-motion connection, with studs 46a on theouter endmost lower keepers 18` The control bar 46 is normally shiftedoutwardly; i. e. away from the slats, maintaining engagement by the ears47 only with the outer endmost keepers 18, as aforesaid. However, withthis arrangement, when the lazy tongs are extended, and the slats 19assume their automatic diagonal adjustment, the bar 46 iscorrespondingly laterally shifted. Such bar is fitted, along the lengththereof, with spring clips 48 disposed so that upon inward shifting ofsaid bar such spring clips 48 make snap-engagement with the near pins2t) on all of the keepers 18, saving and excepting the outer endmostones thereof, and which are the ones to which the ears 47 connect.

With the control bar 46 shifted inwardly with the spring clips 48engaging the pins 20, as above described, lateral shifting of such bar46 will eiect selective adjustment in unison of all of the slats 19,whereby to alter the light-entry angle thereof.

The control bar 46 is normally in an outward position with the springclips 48 free for the obvious purpose of permitting the slats 19 toassume their automatic diagonaled adjustment, as aforesaid.

In Figs. 12,-15 inclusive there is disclosed la modifica tion of themeans employed to accomplish manual adjustment of the light-entry angleof the slats 19.

While here the general structural assembly ot the blind remains thesame, the shifting bar, indicated at 49, is pivoted at its ends, as at50, to the outer endmost keepers 18 at opposite sides of the blind; suchshifting bar having no other connection with any of the remainingkeepers 18; i. e. the spring clips 48 of the previous embodiment areomitted.

Here the spindles which project downwardly from the slats 19 of eachsection of the blind are connected by a continuous cable system 51 whichhas connection with such spindles in the manner shown in Figs. 13 andi4, these spindles being here indicated at 52.

With shifting of the bar 49 in one direction or the other, the outerendmost keepers 18 are part-turned, which part-turn is also imparted inunison to the remaining keepers 18 by the continuous cable systems 51.

In order to maintain said cable systems 51 relatively taut when the lazytongs are extended and the blind sections closed, the inner endmostspindles 52 at the bottom of the blind are engaged and pulled towardeach other by over-dead center snaplock plates 53 pivoted, as at 54, ontop of the box 2, with a spring 55 connecting said plates, as shown. Thesnap-lock plates 53 include pick-up notches 56 which open in a mannersuch that the plates 53 which start in diverging relation are engaged bythe inner endmost spindles 52 when the blind closes; such plates, withthe closing motion, swinging towards each other, passing overdead-center, and thence tensioning the continuous cable systems 51.Conversely, when the blind sections are opened, the snap-lock plates 53swing apart, pass over dead-center, and the spindles 52 escape so thatthe blind sections may be opened by the lazy tongs without restriction.

When the snap-lock plates 53 swing apart to release position they engagestops 57.

The described vertical Venetian blind provides a structure which can bemanufactured in an economical manner; readily installed in a window;and-when installedeasily manipulated to cause opening or closing of theblind sections and selective manual adjustment of the slats with respectto the light-entry angle.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects ofthe invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vertical Venetian blind comprising top and bottom lazy tongs, meanssupporting the lazy tongs for contraction and extension relative tofixed outer ends thereof, the lazy tongs including hubs at their axesand pivotal elements projecting from the hubs, vertical slats connectedto and extending between corresponding hubs, means operative to-simultaneously contract or extend said lazy tongs whereby to open orclose the blind, a horizontal laterally and transversely shiftable bardisposed at the bottom of the blind adjacent the lower ends of theslats, the pivotal elements including transverse keepers in which theslats engage and friction connection means between the keepers and hubs,and means including elements on the keepers and normally free springclips on the bar adapted for engagement with the elements when the blindis open and upon the bar being shifted transversely in an inwarddirection, longitudinal shifting of the bar then part-turning said slatsto adjust the light-entry angle thereof.

2. A vertical Venetian blind comprising horizontal top and bottom lazytongs, means supporting the lazy tongs for contraction and extensionrelative to fixed outer ends thereof, the lazy tongs including pivotalelements at the axes, vertical slats connected to and extending betweencorresponding pivotal elements, means operative to simultaneouslycontract or extend said lazy tongs whereby t0 open or close the blind,the slats being face to face in close relation when the blind is open,means between the lazy tongs and slats operative to cause the latter toassume a diagonaled light-entry angle upon extension of said lazy tongsand resultant opening of the blind, a control bar disposed horizontallyat the lower end of the blind, said bar being shiftable directiontransversely of said bar, means connecting one slat and the bar forlimited motion of the bar in said last named direction, and other meansoperative only when the bar is moved inwardly in said direction arrangedt0 couple said bar to the remaining slats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,708,636 Shook Apr. 9, 1929 2,030,234 Villalobos Feb. 11, 19362,135,647 Streby Nov. 8, 1938 2,254,705 Morse Sept. 2, 1941 2,269,579Chilton Jan. 13, 1942 2,386,695 Lister-Torsen Oct. 9, 1945 2,577,884Garubo Dec. 11, 1951 2,587,859 King Mar. 4, 1952 2,616,497 McCarthy Nov.4, 1952 laterally of the blind as well as in a-

